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Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1) 2013, 61-73
pISSN 1644-0730 eISSN 1889-9594 www.food.actapol.net/
sanpharm@gmail.com, mobile no: 9010 055 004
Rosemary is a powerful herb belonging to the fam-
ily Lamiaceae that originates from the Mediterranean
region. It is derived from the Latin word ros (dew)
and marinus (sea) which means ‘dew of the sea’ [All
about... 2012]. It has been named the Herb of the Year
in 2001 by the International Herb Association. Rose-
mary is regarded as the herb of faithfulness as Eliza-
bethan sweethearts carried a twig of rosemary as its
sign. Today market demand of the plant is growing,
as it is used in several commercially available prod-
ucts. Rosemary is composed of pine-like leaves, which
is the heart of all medicinal and other benefi ts that are
derived from the use of its oil [Rosemary... 2012].
The synonyms of the plant include Garden Rosemary,
Polar Plant, Compass-Weed and Compass Plant [http://
www.globalherbalsupplies.com 2012]. It is known
in
several vernacular names like Alecrim, common rose-
mary, echter Rosmarin, encensier, garden rosemary,
rosmariin, rosmarina, Rosmarin, rosmarini, rosmari-
no, rosemary, tresmarino [Bedevian 1994, Farnsworth
2005, Youngken 1950]. Rosemary is indigenous
to South Europe and Asia but it is also cultivated
AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW ON THE MEDICINAL FLORA
ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (LAMIACEAE)
Asia Begum
1
, Subarda Sandhya
1
, Syed Shaff ath Ali
2
, Kombath Ravindran Vinod
1
,
Swapna Reddy
1
, David Banji
1
1
Department of Pharmacognosy, Nalanda College of Pharmacy
Cherlapally, Hyderabad Main Road, Nalgonda-508001, India
2
Department of Pharmacology, Vatsalya College of Pharmacy
Bhongir, Nalgonda, India
ABSTRACT
Rosmarinus offi cinalis (Rosemary) is a common household plant which belongs to the family Lamiaceae and
is grown in many parts of the world. It is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves
and white, pink, purple or blue fl owers. The two most commonly grown hardy Rosemaries are Rosmarinus
offi cinalis ‘Arp’ and R. offi cinalis ‘Madelene Hill’ (syn. ‘Hill Hardy’). The other cultivars of the plant are
R. offi cinalis ‘Albus’, R. offi cinalis ‘Bendenen Blue’, R. offi cinalis ‘Goodwin Creek’, R. offi cinalis ‘Herb Cot-
tage’, R. offi cinalis ‘Logee’s Light Blue’, R. offi cinalis ‘Miss Jessup’s Upright’, R. offi cinalis ‘Russian River’,
R. offi cinalis ‘Salem’. The chemical constituents include bitter principle, resin, tannic acid, volatile oils and
fl avonoids. The volatile oil consists of borneol, bornyl acetate, camphene, cineol, pinene and camphor. It is
used for problems involved in central nervous system, cardio vascular system, genito urinary conditions, liver
treatments, reproductive system and respiratory system. The volatile oil of the plant is used in oils and lotions
for the treatment of various ailments like arthritis, gout, muscular pain, neuralgia, wound and rubbed into hair
for stimulating the hair bulbs to renewed activity, to prevent premature baldness.
Key words: rosemary, Lamiaceae, borneol, culinary, hair growth
INTRODUCTION
Begum A., Sandhya S., Syed Shaff ath A., Vinod K.R., Swapna R., Banji D., 2013. An in-depth review on the medicinal fl ora Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae). Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1), 61-73.
62 www.food.actapol.net/
in Mediterranean basin and India [WHO guidelines...
2007, Kokate et al. 2010].
Scientifi c classifi cation
[Master data/monograph... 2007]
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division: magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Rosmarinus L.
Species: offi cinalis
Binomial name: Rosmarinus offi cinalis L.
History
Rosemary has been named the Herb of the Year in
2001 by the International Herb Association. It was in-
troduced to Britain by the Romans and is still particu-
larly loved today by the Italians and the British, who
use it frequently in their cooking. In ancient Greece
and Rome rosemary was believed to strengthen the
memory, which accounts for its being known as the
herb of remembrance and fi delity. Rosemary was an
essential part of the apothecary’s repertoire during the
Renaissance. Hippocrates, Galen, and Dioscorides
prescribed rosemary for liver problems [Rosemary...
2012]. Rosemary is not a popular plant in India. It was
introduced by the Europeans as a garden plant due to
its pleasant fragrant scented leaves.
Varieties
There are more than 20 varieties of rosemary plant.
The different types of rosemary are listed in Table 1.
Upright rosemary. It measure between six and
eight feet in diameter and two feet or more in height.
Creeping rosemary. It covers eight or ten feet in
diameter in a very short period of time. It can also trail
down eight or ten feet. It falls all the way to the ground
and is covered with pale blue fl owers.
Pine scented rosemary. Pine scented rosemary is
a soft sea green that grows to about three to four feet
high by about four or more feet wide.
Arp rosemary. This plant grows where winter
temperatures are frequently in the teens or less.
Madalene hill rosemary is a cold hardy Rose-
mary. It is rated to survive minus 15 degrees and is
erect, growing to about three feet. Its fl owers are light
blue.
Pink rosemary has the thinnest leaves of all Ro-
smarinus offi cinalis plants. Flower is pale in colour
and grows quickly to two feet.
White rosemary is visually different. This is
a beautiful very erect plant with thich succulent leaves
and white fl owers that have just a spot of blue in the
throat. The branches are reminiscent of candelabras
and give the plant an open airy look and have white
fl owers.
Dancing waters rosemary. It is shorter, more
mounding and has dark blue fl owers.
Golden rain rosemary has weeping foliage. The
golden hue of the plant turns darker green over sum-
mer and returns with cooler weather.
Blue boy rosemary is the smallest of all the Rose-
mary varieties. It has small leaves and little light blue
pearls for fl owers. This plant grows out to cover about
12 inches but rarely gets over six inches tall.
Spice islands rosemary has thick juicy looking
leaves and very upright growth with a nice dark blue
fl ower [Mountain... 2012].
CULTIVATION AND COLLECTION
It is cultivated in gardens and on slopes. Its cultiva-
tion is found successful on light calcarious soil. The
propagation is by means of sowing the seeds or with
slips. After fl owering, the plants are cut about 10 cm
above the ground and are steam distilled to isolate the
volatile oil content in the plant [Kokate et al. 2010].
DESCRIPTION
Leaves are leathery, opposite, strongly recurved,
fringed margins and with prominent midrib. Size of
the leaf is 1.0-2.5 cm long and 4 cm width. The up-
per surface of the leaf is green coloured and the low-
ered surface is grey somewhat wooly due to numer-
ous trichomes. The margins are entire and strongly
revolute with obtuse apex, tapering and non peti-
olate base [European Pharmacopoeia 2007]. Typical
labiates hairs contain the volatile oil, of which the
BP specifi es a minimum content of 1.2% calculated
63
Begum A., Sandhya S., Syed Shaff ath A., Vinod K.R., Swapna R., Banji D., 2013. An in-depth review on the medicinal fl ora Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae). Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1), 61-73.
www.food.actapol.net/
Table 1. Types of rosemary (rosemary varieties, 2012)
Types Flowers Growth habit Other Uses
12345
Rosemary, Arp (Rosmarinus
offi cinalis)
pale blue, summer upright green-gray foliage ornamental and culinary,
popular bonsai subject
Rosemary, Benenden Blue
(Rosmarinus offi cinalis
‘Benenden Blue’)
blue, midsummer upright dark green foliage, bred
for deep blue fl owers
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Blue Lady (Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis ‘Blue Lady’)
blue-violet, summer twisted very narrow leaves, very
needle-like (popular
bonsai subject)
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Blue Spires (Rosma-
rinus offi cinalis ‘Blue Spires’)
bright blue fl owers
on tall upright stems
creeper specially developed
for visual and olfactory
appeal
very ornamental and yet
still culinary
Rosemary, Collingwood Ingram
(Rosmarinus offi cinalis ‘Colling-
wood Ingram’)
blue, summer creeper highly fragrant, bright
green foliage
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Foresteri (Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis ‘Foresteri’)
blue, summer upright especially drought
resistant
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Girardus (Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis ‘Girardus’)
blue, summer upright very dense foliage culinary
Rosemary, Golden Rain
(Rosmarinus offi cinalis
‘Joyce de Baggio’)
blue, summer upright variegated (yellow on
foliage edges) increasing
variegation with age
ornamental and culinary
rosemary, Gorizia (Rosmarinus
offi cinalis ‘Gorizia’)
blue, summer upright densely packed branches
of dark green needles,
fragrant
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Hill Hardy (Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis ‘Hill Hardy’)
blue, summer upright needlelike foliage,
fragrant
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Kenneth’s Prostrate
(
Rosmarinus offi cinalis ‘Ken-
neth’s Prostrate’)
blue, late summer
and early fall
creeper fast grower ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Lockwood
de Forest (Rosmarinus offi cinalis
var. angustifolius ‘Lockwood
de Forest’)
lavender blue,
summer
creeper dark green foliage ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Logee’s Blue
(Rosmarinus offi cinalis
‘Logee’s Blue’)
blue, summer upright bluish green foliage,
smaller Ogee’s
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Miss Jessup (Rosma-
rinus offi cinalis ‘Miss Jessup’)
blue upright bred especially
for fl owering
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Mrs. Howard’s
Creeping (Rosmarinus offi cinalis
‘Mrs. Howard’s Creeping’)
small blue, mid
to late summer
creeper fast grower ornamental and culinary
Begum A., Sandhya S., Syed Shaff ath A., Vinod K.R., Swapna R., Banji D., 2013. An in-depth review on the medicinal fl ora Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae). Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1), 61-73.
64 www.food.actapol.net/
on the anhydrous drug. It has spiciform infl orescences
of white or blue fl owers, with the two stamens project-
ing far beyond the corolla [Youngken 1950, Bisset and
Wichtl 1994, Bruneton 1995, Boulos 1983].
Description of the oil
Rosemary oil is colourless to pale yellow with char-
acteristic fl avour and camphoraceous taste. The specif-
ic gravity is 0.894-0.912, refractive index 1.464-1.476
and has an optical rotation of 5-10°. The oil is insolu-
ble in water, soluble in 10 volumes of 80% of alcohol.
The acid value is not more than 1.0 [Kokate et al. 2010].
MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERISTICS
Leaf is dorsiventral with upper epidermal cells
polygonal in shape. It is slightly thickened walled
and with occasional pits. Lower epidermal cells
are sinuous and have numerous diacytic stomata on
the lower surface only. Abundant uniseriate, multi-
cellular, multi-branched covering trichomes are on
the lower epidermis. Glandular trichomes are with
a unicellular stalk and unicellular, bicellular or mul-
ticellular head which occurs on both epidermises
and consists of spongy mesophyll [European Phar-
macopoeia 2005].
Powdered plant material
The powder is greyish-green-yellowish-green.
It has fragments of lower epidermis with straight to
sinuous-walled cells and abundant diacytic stomata.
The fragments of the upper epidermis with straight-
walled cells, slightly thickened and pitted, and an
underlying hypodermis composed of large, irregular
cells with thickened and beaded anticlinal walls, frag-
ments in sectional view showing the hypodermal cells
extending across the lamina at intervals, separating
the one or two-layered palisade into large, cresscent-
shaped areas, numerous multicellular, extensively
branched, covering trichomes of the lower epidermis
and rare conical covering trichomes of the upper epi-
dermis, glandular trichomes of 2 types, the majority
with a short, unicellular stalk and a radiate head com-
posed of 8 cells, others, less abundant, with a unicellu-
lar stalk and a spherical, unicellular or bicellular head
are seen. Occasional cork fragments, fi bres, vascular
tissue and lignifi ed parenchyma from the stems [Brit-
ish Herbal... 1996].
Table 1 – cont.
12345
Rosemary, Pine-Scented
(Rosmarinus offi cinalis
‘Pine-Scented’)
blue, summer upright, feathery
needle-leaves
grown as miniature
Christmas tree, leaves
have pine fragrance
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Rex (Rosmarinus
offi cinalis ‘Rex’)
blue, summer upright dark green foliage ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Santa Barbara
(Rosmarinus offi cinalis
‘Santa Barbara’)
blue, summer upright drought resistant ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Severn Sea (Rosma-
rinus offi cinalis ‘Severn Sea’)
violet-blue upright – ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Spanish (Rosmarinus
offi cinalis ‘Majorca’)
pink, throughout
summer
upright very needlelike leaves
(popular bonsai subject)
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, Tuscan Blue (Rosma-
rinus offi cinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’)
blue, mid spring to
late summer
upright extremely fragrant, bred
especially for dense
fl owering
ornamental and culinary
Rosemary, White-Flowered
(Rosmarinus offi cinalis
‘White-Flowered’)
white upright extremely fragrant ornamental and culinary
65
Begum A., Sandhya S., Syed Shaff ath A., Vinod K.R., Swapna R., Banji D., 2013. An in-depth review on the medicinal fl ora Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae). Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1), 61-73.
www.food.actapol.net/
General identity tests
Macroscopic and microscopic examinations, thin-
layer chromatography and high-performance liquid
chromatography for phenolic acids are the general
tests performed for the identifi cation of these plants
[Wagner and Bladt 2004, European Pharmacopoeia
2007, Ziakova and Brandsteterova 2003].
Purity tests include microbiological tests for
specifi c microorganisms and microbial contamina-
tion limits are as described in the WHO guidelines for
assessing quality of herbal medicines with reference
to contaminants and residues [WHO guidelines...
2007].
STANDARDS
Foreign organic matter: not more than 5% of stem,
and not more than 2.0% of other foreign matter [Euro-
pean Pharmacopoeia 2005].
Total ash: not more than 9.0% [European Pharma-
copoeia 2005].
Acid-insoluble ash: not more than 1.5% [British
Herbal... 1996].
Water-soluble extractive: not less than 15.0% [Brit-
ish Herbal... 1996].
Water content: not more than 10% [European Phar-
macopoeia 2005].
Pesticide residue: the recommended maximum
limit of aldrin and dieldrin is not more than 0.05 mg/
kg [European Pharmacopoeia 2005] and pesticide res-
idues WHO guidelines 2007 and 1997.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
In plants the main active constituents are volatile
oil which is constituted with camphene, camphor, cin-
eol, borneol, resin, bitters matter, rosemary acid and
fl avonoids.
Chemical classifi cation of active principles
in rosemary plant
Flavonoids. 6-methoxygenkwanine, apigenine, di-
osmetine, diosmine, genkwanine, hispiduline, Luteo-
line, Sinensetine.
Di- and triterpenoids. Carnosolic acid, picrosal-
vine, rosmariquinone, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid (has
anti-infl amation effect).
Active compounds in the ethereal oil
Monoterpenoids. alpha-pinene 12%, beta-pinene,
camphene 22%, mycrene 1.5%, alpha-phellandrene,
limonene 0.5-1%, alpha- and y-terpinene, paracyme-
ne 2%.
Sesquiterpinoids. beta-caryophyllene 3%.
Monoterpinoids. linalool 0.5-1% terpine-1ol-4,
a-terpineol 1.5%, borneol 3-5%, isoborneol, cis-thuy-
anol-4, trans-thuyanol-4, p-cymene-8-ol.
Terpenic esters. bornyl-actate, a-phenchyl-actate.
Terpinic acid. 1,8-cineol 30%, caryophylline-ox-
ide, humulene-epoxide I and II.
Non terpenic cetons. 3-hexanon, methyl-heptenon.
Monoterpenons. camphor 30%, verbenon, carvon
0.4%. The fl owers contain about 1.0% of volatile oil,
resin, ursolic acid and bitter principle. While leaves
contain mainly 10-15% of borneol, 2.5,3% of bornyl
acetate, camphor, eucalyptol, pinene, D-camphene, ci-
neol
and 45% of terpenes [Kokate et al. 2010].
Major chemical constituents of Rosmarinus
offi cinalis volatile oil
The chief constituents of rosemary oil are: camphor
(5-31%), 1,8-cineol (15-55%), pinene (9-26%), bor-
neol (1.5-5.0%), camphene (2.5-12.0%), pinene (2.0-
-9.0%), limonene (1.5-5.0%), verbenone (2.2-11.1%),
caryophyllene (1.8-5.1%) and myrcene (0.9-4.5%).
The structures of 1,8-cineole, borneol and camphor are
presented below [European Pharmacopoeia 2005, Sa-
lido et al. 2003, Domokos et al. 1997, Williams 2009].
Major chemical constituents present in folium
rosemarini
To 2.5% of essential oil, the chief constituents of
which are camphor (5-21%), 1,8-cineole (15-55%),
pinene (9-26%), borneol (1.5-5.0%), 297 camphene
(2.5-12.0%), pinene (2.0-9.0%) and limonene (1.5-
-5.0%). Phenolic compounds are represented by fl a-
vonoids with a methylated aglycone (e.g. genkwanin)
and by phenolic acids (>3%), particularly by rosmarin-
ic, chlororenic and caffeic acids. Also present are tri-
cyclic diterpenes such as rossmaridiphenol, carnosol,
carnosic acid and rosmanol, and diterpenes, including
seco-hinokio (Fig. 1) [European Pharmacopoeia 2005,
Salido et al. 2003, Bisset and Wichtl 1994, Bruneton
1995, Farnsworth 2005, Blumenthal 1998, Cantrell
et al. 2005].
Begum A., Sandhya S., Syed Shaff ath A., Vinod K.R., Swapna R., Banji D., 2013. An in-depth review on the medicinal fl ora Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae). Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1), 61-73.
66 www.food.actapol.net/
Chemical assays
Gas chromatographic analysis for Spanish, Mo-
rocco and Tunisia rosemary volatile oil was performed
to assess the content of chemical constituents in each.
It was observed that Morocco and Tunisia rosemary
contained same amount of chemical constituents while
the Spanish one possessed a higher amount in com-
parison (Table 2).
Medicinal uses
It is used as carminative, rubifacient, stimulant and
as fl avouring agent for liniments, hair lotions, inhaler,
soaps and cosmetics [Kokate et al. 2010]. Rosemary
leaves have many traditional uses based on their anti-
bacterial and spasmolytic actions. Used orally for the
treatment of dyspeptic complaints [British Herbal...
1996], and in external applications for supportive man-
agement of rheumatic complaints and circulatory disor-
ders [Blumenthal 1998]. Aetheroleum Rosmarini crude
drug may enhance cognition. It is used as a cholagogue,
diaphoretic, digestant, diuretic, esmmenagogue, laxa-
tive and tonic [Bedevian 1994, Farnsworth 2005] also
used in the management of headache, menstrual disor-
ders, nervous menstrual complaints, tiredness, defec-
tive memory, sprains and bruises [Hagers... 2003].
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
O
H
Camphor 1,8-cineole
Carnosic acid Carnosol
Genkwanin Rosemanic acid Borneole
O
O
OH
OH
HO
H3CO
HO
COOH
OH
OH
H
O
O
CH3
CH3
CH3
OH
H
H
H
COOH
HO
OH
H
O
HO
OH
O
ĮDQG
ȕ
S
LQHQH
CH3
CH3
CH3
O
H
CH2
CH3
CH3
O
H
F ig. 1. Chemical structures of few a compounds present in Rosmarinus offi cinalis
Table 2. Gas chromatographic analysis of Spanish, Moroc-
co and Tunisia type rosemary oil (European Pharmacopoeia
2005)
Chemical
constituents
Spanish rosemary
oil, %
Morocco and Tunisia
rosemary oil, %
α-pinene 18-26 9-14
β-pinene 2.0-6.0 4.0-9.0
camphene 8-12 2.5-6.0
myrcene 1.5-5.0 1.0-2.0
limonene 2.5-5.0 1.5-4.0
1,8-cineol 16.0-25.0 38.0-55.0
p-cymene 1.0-2.2 0.8-2.5
camphor 13.0-21.0 5.0-15.0
bornyl acetate 0.5-2.5 0.1-1.5
terpineol 1.0-3.5 1.0-2.6
borneol 2.0-4.5 1.5-5.0
verbenone 0.7-2.5 0.4
67
Begum A., Sandhya S., Syed Shaff ath A., Vinod K.R., Swapna R., Banji D., 2013. An in-depth review on the medicinal fl ora Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae). Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1), 61-73.
www.food.actapol.net/
Brain and nervous system conditions. In gen-
eral debility long-term nervous or physical illness,
improves the memory, insomnia, mental fatigue, nerv-
ous anxiety and tension, nervous depression, nervous
disorders, restorative effect on the nervous system,
soothes the nerves, stimulates the brain and nervous
system, tension headaches, and migraines.
Cardiovascular conditions. It improves circulation,
raises blood pressure, and stimulates the weak heart
subject to palpitation when consumed in small doses.
Gastrointestinal circulatory systems. In condi-
tions of bad breath, and stomach upset. Promotes prop-
er digestion, toning and calming effect on the digestion.
Genitourinary conditions. Dropsy.
Female conditions. Regulates the menstrual cycle.
Liver conditions. Promotes liver function, pro-
motes the production of bile.
Reproductive system conditions. Stimulates the
sexual organs.
Respiratory system. Colds, colic.
Other. Eases cramps, expels morbid matter from
the system, failing eyesight, headache.
Externally. It is used to treat bites, stings.
In aromatherapy the essential oil is used as a de-
congestant, as an inhalant, for exhaustion, for head-
aches, to enhance memory and clear concentration.
The oil is used in oils/lotions for Arthritis, bruises,
eczema, gout, muscular pain, neuralgeia, revitalizing
paralysed limbs, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis,
sciatica, scrofulous sores, wounds and rubbed into hair
for stimulating the hair bulbs to renewed activity and
to prevent preature baldness.
Other uses. the oil is used as perfume in oint-
ments, shampoos and soaps. The fl owers are laid in
clothes and cupboards to destroy moths. The leaves
are crushed into meats, fi sh, potato salads, etc. to pre-
vent food poisoning.
Experimental pharmacology
The plant is scientifi cally proved to possess anti-
infl ammatory activity [Lo 2002], antioxidant activity
[Del Bano et al. 2003], antihepatotoxic activity [Fahim
et al. 1999], antinephrotoxic activity [Makino et al.
2002], antimicrobial activity [Mangena and Muyima
1999], antitrypanosomal activity [Abe et al. 2002],
an-
titumour activity [Singletary and Nelshoppen 1991],
antiulcer activity [Dias et al. 2000], diuretic effects
[
Haloui et al. 2007], antispasmodic effects [Lis-Balchin
1996], osteoclastic effects [Muhlbauer et al. 2003]
, en-
zyme induction [Debersac et al. 2001], estrogenic ef-
fects [Zhu et al. 1998], immune stimulant activity [Hur
et al. 2004], carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, impairment
of fertility [Alkofahi et al. 1997].
Toxicology
The embryotoxic effects of d-camphor were inves-
tigated in rats and rabbits after intragastric adminis-
tration for the treatment of hypotonic circulatory dys-
regulations [Leuschner 1997].
Clinical pharmacology
A clinical study to assess the olfactory impact of
the essential oils of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
and rosemary (Rosmarinus offi cinalis) on cognitive
performance and mood in healthy volunteers was per-
formed [Sanders et al. 2002, Diego et al. 1998].
REPORTED RESEARCH INVESTIGATIONS
OF ROSEMARY
Singletary and Nelshoppen [1991]. “Inhibition of
7,12-dimethylbenz[c]anthracene (DMBA)-induced
mammary tumorigenesis and of in vivo formation
of mammary DMBA-DNA adducts by rosemary ex-
tract”. Rosemary extract induces mammary tumero-
genesis and in vivo formation of mammary dimethyl
benz anthracene DNA adducts.
Al-Hader et al. [1994]. Hyperglycemic and insu-
lin release inhibitory effects of Rosmarinus offi cinalis.
The same treatment also resulted in a 30% (P < 0.002)
decrease in serum insulin level, in comparison with
that of control rabbits at the 30 min interval. In alloxan
diabetic rabbits, R. offi cinalis volatile oil increased
fasting plasma glucose levels by 17% (P < 0.05) above
those of untreated animals 6 h after its administration.
Krause et al. [1999] studied the “Bioavailability
of the antioxidative Rosmarinus offi cinalis compound
carnosic acid in eggs”. Using this method carnosic
acid could be detected in 20 ng/g of egg yolk. Results
showed that carnosic acid is bioavailable in egg yolk
but not in albumen.
Yen et al. [1999] worked on the “Measurement
of antioxidative activity in metal ion-induced lipid
peroxidation systems”. The antioxidant activity of
Begum A., Sandhya S., Syed Shaff ath A., Vinod K.R., Swapna R., Banji D., 2013. An in-depth review on the medicinal fl ora Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae). Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1), 61-73.
68 www.food.actapol.net/
α-tocopherol is less than that of rosemary extracts
in the iron ion-induced peroxidation systems.
Samman et al. [2000] reported that “Green tea or
rosemary extract added to foods reduces nonheme-
iron absorption”. The presence of the phenolic-rich ex-
tracts resulted in decreased non heme-iron absorption.
Dias et al. [2000] reported that an ethanol (70%)
extract was evaluated for antiulcerogenic activity in-
-vivo. Intragastric administration of 100.0 mg/kg body
weight per day to 1.0 g/kg body weight per day of the
extract decreased the ulcerative lesion index produced
by ethanol and reserpine in rats. No antisecretory ac-
tivity was observed in the pyloric ligation model.
Haloui et al. [2000] studied the effects of aqueous
extracts of the crude drug on the treatment of kidney
function and diuresis in rats were determined. Daily
intragastric administration of the aqueous extracts of
the leaves, at a dose of 10 ml/kg body weight of an 8%
or 16% extract in distilled water for 1 week, signifi -
cantly enhanced diuresis in rats compared to the con-
trol group from the fi fth day of treatment (p < 0.001).
No change was observed in plasma electrolytes and
urea in any group, except for a decrease in sodium and
chloride concentration in the group treated with the
16% extract of the crude drug. A decrease in creatinine
clearance was observed after treatment with a daily
dose of 8% extract.
Jaswir et al. [2000] studied “The synergistic effects
of rosemary, sage, and citric acid on fatty acid reten-
tion of palm olein during deep-fat frying”. A combi-
nation of 0.076% oleoresin rosemary extract, 0.066%
sage extract, and 0.037% citric acid produced the opti-
mal retention of the essential fatty acid.
Galobart et al. [2001] reported the “Effect of di-
etary supplementation with rosemary extract and
α-tocopheryl acetate on lipid oxidation in eggs en-
riched with ω3-fatty acids”. The antioxidant effect
of dietary supplementation with 500 or 1,000 mg/kg
of a commercial rosemary extract vs. 200 mg/kg of
α-tocopheryl acetate (α-TA) on the lipid oxidative
stability of ω3-fatty acid (FA) – enriched eggs was
compared.
Sotelo-Félix et al. [2001] worked on the evalua-
tion of the effectiveness of Rosmarinus offi cinalis
(Lamiaceae) in the alleviation of carbon tetrachlo-
ride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in the rat). Histo-
logical evaluation showed that Rosmarinus offi cinalis
partially prevented CCl4-induced infl ammation, ne-
crosis and vacuolation.
Park et al. [2001] reported the “Neuroprotective
effect of rosmarinus offi cinalis extract on human do-
paminergic cell line, SH-SY
5
Y”. R. offi cinalis might
potentially serve as an agent for prevention of several
human neurodegenerative diseases caused by oxida-
tive stress and apoptosis.
Sacchetti et al. [2004] worked on the “Compara-
tive evaluation of 11 essential oils of different origin
as functional antioxidants, antiradicals and antimicro-
bials in foods”. Antioxidant and radical-scavenging
properties were tested by means of 1,1-diphenyl-2-
-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, b-carotene bleach-
ing test and luminol-photochemiluminescence (PCL)
assay.
Cavero et al. [2005] reported the “In vitro anti-
oxidant analysis of supercritical fl uid extracts from
rosemary (Rosmarinus offi cinalis L.)”. Using forward
stepwise multiple linear regression, carnosic acid, me-
thyl carnosate and carnosol were the compounds se-
lected to predict the mentioned activity, with a value
of 0.95 for the coeffi cient of determination.
Aziza Kamal et al. [2008] reported “Rosemary
(Rosmarinus offi cinalis) – a study of the composition,
antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts ob-
tained with supercritical carbon dioxide”. Rosemary
leaf extracts were obtained by supercritical fl uid ex-
traction (SFE) and Soxhlet extraction. Their chemical
compositions were evaluated by GC-MS. Antioxidant,
antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts
were confi rmed.
Kissi et al. [2009] reported “The evaluation of
antioxidant potential of Veronica offi cinalis and Ro-
smarinus offi cinalis extracts by monitoring malondial-
dehide and gluthione levels in rats”. The reduced and
total glutathione were quantifi ed from rat plasma, af-
ter derivatization with o-phtalaldehyde, using a HPLC
method with fl uorescence detection.
Gutierrez et al. [2009] studied the “Oxidative stress
modulation by Rosmarinus offi cinalis in CCl
4
-induced
liver cirrhosis”. The effect produced by a methanolic
extract of Rosmarinus offi cinalis on CCl
4
-induced liv-
er cirrhosis in rats was investigated using both preven-
tion and reversion models.
Malo et al. [2010] discussed the “Anti-oxidant sup-
plementation improves boar sperm characteristics and
69
Begum A., Sandhya S., Syed Shaff ath A., Vinod K.R., Swapna R., Banji D., 2013. An in-depth review on the medicinal fl ora Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae). Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1), 61-73.
www.food.actapol.net/
fertility after cryopreservation: Comparison between
cysteine and rosemary (Rosmarinus offi cinalis): (1)
the effective concentration of cysteine in freezing ex-
tender was 10 mM; (2) the addition of exogenous rose-
mary or cysteine to the freezing extender positively
affected post-thawed viability and acrosome integrity.
Only rosemary supplementation improved total motil-
ity at 3 h and progressive motility at any time.
Horvathova et al. [2010] discussed the “Adminis-
tration of rosemary essential oil enhances resistance
of rat hepatocytes against DNA-damaging oxidative
agents”. Administration to rats of rosemary oil, ex-
hibiting free radical-scavenging activity measured by
DPPH assay.
Ibarra et al. [2010] studied the “Importance of ex-
tract standardization and in vitro/ex vivo assay selec-
tion for the evaluation of antioxidant activity of botan-
icals: A case study on three Rosmarinus offi cinalis L.
extracts”. The carnosic acid extract was better than the
rosmarinic acid extract in inhibiting the oxidation of
LDL ex vivo.
Abu-Al-Basal [2010] worked on the “Healing po-
tential of Rosmarinus offi cinalis L. on full-thickness
excision cutaneous wounds in alloxan-induced-dia-
betic BALB/C mice”. The essential oil of Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis was the most active in healing diabetic
wounds and provided a scientifi c evidence for the tra-
ditional use of this herb in wound treatment.
Derwich et al. [2011] explored the “Aromatic and
medicinal plants of Morocco: Chemical composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus offi cinalis” determined by
hydro-distillation, analysed by GC/MS and GC-FID.
Muñoza et al. [2011] reported the “Rapid HPTLC-
-based method for quality control: simultaneous chem-
ical analysis and antioxidant activity determination in
herbal, nutraceutical and functional foods”. 44 sam-
ples of Calendula offi cinalis, 18 samples of Thymus
vulgaris and 12 samples of Rosmarinus offi cinalis,
based on the combination of HPTLC with a diode ar-
ray detector (DAD) and post chromatographic DPPH
radical derivatization.
Tavafi and Ahmadvand [2011] worked on the “Ef-
fect of rosmarinic acid on inhibition of gentamicin
induced nephrotoxicity in rats”. RA alleviates GS
nephrotoxicity via antioxidant activity, increase of
renal GSH content and increase of renal antioxidant
enzymes activity.
Noqueira de Melo et al. [2011] worked on “Ros-
marinus offi cinalis L. essential oil inhibits in vivo and
in vitro leukocyte migration”. The effects of REO on
leukocyte migration highlight an important mecha-
nism of the anti-infl ammatory action of rosemary.
Derwich et al. [2011] reported the “In vitro antibac-
terial activity and GC/MS analysis of the essential oil
extract of leaves of Rosmarinus offi cinalis grown in Mo-
rocco”. Their chemical composition was determined by
hydro-distillation and analysed by GC/MS and GC-FID.
Boix et al. [2011] studied on the “Glandular tri-
chomes of Rosmarinus offi cinalis L.: Anatomical and
phytochemical analyses of leaf volatiles”. It demon-
strated the importance of leaves as a center of volatile
production in peltate and capitate trichomes, as well as
the nature of volatile composition, which is involved
in species survival.
Coran et al. [2012] reported the “Crucial aspects
of high performance thin layer chromatography
quantitative validation. The case of determination of
rosmarinic acid in different matrices”. HPTLC Li-
Chrospher silica gel 60 F254s, 20 cm × 10 cm, plates
with toluene:ethyl formate:formic acid (6:4:1, v/v)
as the mobile phase were used.
Tai et al. [2012] worked on “Antiproliferation ef-
fect of Rosemary (Rosmarinus offi cinalis) on human
ovarian
cancer cells in vitro”. It induced apoptosis by
modifying the expression of multiple genes regulating
apoptosis, and holds potential as an adjunct to cancer
chemotherapy.
Murata et al. [2012] “Promotion of hair growth by Ros-
marinus offi cinalis leaf extract”. Topical administration
of Rosmarinus offi cinalis leaf extract (RO-ext,
2 mg/day/
mouse) improved hair regrowth in C57BL/6NCrSlc
mice that experienced hair regrowth interruption in-
duced by testosterone treatment. The inhibition of
testosterone 5α-reductase is well recognized as one of
the most effective strategies for the treatment of an-
drogenic alopecia.
ADVERSE REACTIONS AND CONTRA INDICATIONS
OF ROSEMARY OIL
1. Inhalation can occasionally cause irritation and
very rarely laryngospasm [Blumenthal 1998].
2. External use may worsen bronchospasm. Rarely
hypersensitivity reactions of the skin may occur.
Begum A., Sandhya S., Syed Shaff ath A., Vinod K.R., Swapna R., Banji D., 2013. An in-depth review on the medicinal fl ora Rosmari-
nus offi cinalis (Lamiaceae). Acta Sci. Pol., Technol. Aliment. 12(1), 61-73.
70 www.food.actapol.net/
3. Photoaggravated allergic contact dermatitis and
cheilitis have been reported. Aetheroleum Rosmarini
[Armisen et al. 2003, Fernandez 1997, Guin 2001].
4. Aetheroleum Rosmarini is contraindicated in
cases of hypersensitivity or allergy to the plant mate-
rial [Blumenthal et al. 2000].
5. It should not be used in patients suffering from
bronchial asthma or bronchitis or on damaged skin,
such as in cases of burns, lesions or skin rashes.
PRECAUTIONS
Drug interactions
Cineole, the main constituent of the oil is known to
induce liver metabolic enzymes in animals. Therefore,
the oil may interact with other prescription medica-
tions. The crude drug is anti-mutagenic in rats treated
with cyclophosphamide and is reported to be carcino-
genic, mutagenic and produce impairment of fertility.
It is reported show teratogenic effects and non-terato-
genic effects in pregnancy. Due to the lack of safety
data, the use of the crude drug during breastfeeding
and children under the age of 12 is not recommended
[Fahim et al. 1999, gits4u.com 2012].
CONCLUSION
Rosemary is an exotic evergreen shrub with mul-
tiple medicinal and cosmetic properties. It is popular
herb which serves as fl avoring agent and spice. Al-
though it is well renowned for all these potencies, the
oil of the plant is adhered with lot of side effects and
hence lacks safety data. Therefore the use rosemary in
pediatrics, as well as pregnant women should be al-
ways dealt with utmost care.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors express their deep sense of gratitude
to Management of Nalanda College of Pharmacy for
allowing them to use the library and internet facilities.
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Received – Przyjęto: 25.07.2012 Accepted for print – Zaakceptowano do druku: 24.10.2012
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